SEA Games

Phạm Thanh Bảo celebrates his men's 100m breaststroke win at the 31st SEA Games in Hà Nội on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên 

HÀ NỘI — Phạm Thanh Bảo looked up at the electric board above the pool the moment he touched the wall at the end of the men's 100m breaststroke, before slapping the water in delight.

He had beaten powerful rivals, including title favourite Maximillian Wei Ang, to win his first-ever SEA Games gold.

Wei of Singapore finished second and Gagarin Nathaniel Yus of Indonesia was third.

Making his victory all the sweeter was his time of 1min 1.17sec, a new national record. The previous record had stood since the 2009 SEA Games in Laos, set by the late Nguyễn Hữu Việt. 

Furthermore, his time also set a new Games record, beating the 1:01.46 set by James Daiparines of the Philippines at the last SEA Games. He is the first swimmer to set a new record at this year's Games. 

"I am so happy with this result. Thank you for all your support," Bảo said.

"I didn't think I could reach such achievement. But I have made it. I don't know what to say now. I will try harder for better."

Swimming is a passion 

Bảo is the only child from a poor family in the southern province of Bến Tre.

They live in a tiny house in Bến Tre City, in which there is only one bed for his grandmother. The rest of the family members slept on the ground.

Both of his parents struggle for work. His mother is a part-time kitchenhand in restaurants, or cleans houses, earning VNĐ30,000 (US$1.3) an hour if hired. His father earns money picking coconuts but earns nothing if it rains. 

Phạm Thanh Bảo (left) near the finish line of the men's 100m breaststroke at the 31st SEA Games in Hà Nội on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

Bảo, born in 2001, grew up in poverty but he loved sports - athletics, football and especially swimming.

Having typical swimming characteristics such as a long arm span, good fitness and a swimmer's body, Bảo was scouted to the Cần Thơ Sports Training Centre when he was 12 years old.

"We did not agree to let him go because we wanted him to study and have a job. Sport to me is not a profession," Bảo's mother said.

"But he was really determined and coaches pushed and encouraged a lot so we let him choose his future," she said.

2016 was an important year in his athlete life. The 15-year-old Bảo, after nearly four years of training, grabbed his first golds in 100m and 200m breaststroke events at the National Youth Swimming Championship. His time of 1:06.26 was the new national junior record in the 100m breaststroke. 

In the same year, he won and set a new national junior record in the 200m breaststroke of 2:23.65 at the National Swimming Championship.

He also dominated in these events at the Southeast Asian Age Groups Swimming Championship, helping Việt Nam to finish on top of the medal tally in late 2016.

He was called to the national team and made his SEA Games debut in 2017. In Kuala Lumpur, Bảo and his teammates won a bronze in the 4x100m relay.

Swiming dream

Swimming is his passion but Bảo also knew that swimming will help his family get out of difficult life.

"I have a dream, a big one. I want to build a good house for my parents and grandmother to live in more comfort. I am so sad seeing them suffering and struggling," Bảo said in an interview after his bronze medal.

"So, I will try to swim well. Hopefully, one day I will win a gold medal at the SEA Games."

Two years later, Bảo took responsibility for Việt Nam in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events. Bảo grabbed two silvers and set a new national record of 2:12.84 in the latter one.

At this Games, his dream has come true. 

Phạm Thanh Bảo (centre) is the first swimmer to set a record at the 31st SEA Games in Hà Nội on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

The gold medal brings Bảo a bonus of VNĐ10 million ($432) as announced by the Việt Nam Team leaders. He will also receive VNĐ45 million ($1,945) as per regulation of the Government and another VNĐ20 million ($864) for his record. 

He has achieved his goal of changing his family's fortunes through swimming.

"I don't have any secret, I just train hard and do my best. I am swimming for myself and my family. I hope with this gold my family will have a better life," he told the media on Saturday.

"I still have the 200m breaststroke ahead. I will focus on it and try to have a good result in this special SEA Games on home ground." — VNS